Multiple-pendant switch.



Patented July 20, 1909.

El woe nfo a CHARLES D.'GERVIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MULTIPLE-PEN DAN '1. SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1908.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Serial N0. 411,278.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. GERVIN, a c tizen of the United States, residing at the city of New. York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Pendant Switches, of which the following IS a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a form of switch or circuit controlling device for lighting and other circuits.

V More particularly the invention covers aform' of multiple pendant switch in which a lurallty of circuits are separately controlable by different buttons or parts, all being opened or broken simultaneously by a single I release button or device.

A switch of this character is articularly advantageous in ofiices and dwellings where the lamps are wired in groups, different of wh ch arerequired at difierent times. For example, a suite mayhave four rooms, the circuits of whlch' are ac arately controllable by a pendant switch int e hallway.

With a switch constructed according to the present invention any selected rooms may be ghted from the single pendant switch in the hallway, but all the. lam's are always extinished by the manipu ation of the release utton. It isbest to-have all the circuits opened s1multaneously in this way to insure against some group being left unintentionview the invention consists in the features of illuminated.

ca out the present invention I aim to accomphs the above control of the cir-. cults by a'switch which is extremelycompact and neat in appearance, and in which parts of opposite polarity are effectively separated by insulating barriers. I also aim to make and break the circuits in a very abrupt and positlve manner, the circuit .ruptiire bein accomphshedin a completely inclosed refractory chamber, so that no possible damage can result from the sparking.

With these and various othen objects in construction and combination as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side eleva-- tion of a multiple pen'dant switch embodying the principle of my invention. Fi 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same; ig. v3 is a sectional view of what I shall term the base or main supporting block and its associated arts; Fig. 4 is atop view of the same; Fig. 5 1s a bottom plan view; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the common return circuit closing element; Fig.7 is a side view of one of the circuit closing buttons; and .Fig. 8 is a detail perspective viewfshowing the action of the release button. I Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated .by the same reference sign,"1 indicates the base or main supporting block, which is preferably of circular outpine, with an annular chamber 2, on its "upper ace.

3 designatesa central or axial hole extending completely through the base 1, and

through theboss or protuberance 4, at the I center of the annular chamber 2. I

5 designates additional holes or openings e'xtendin downward from the chamberv 2 complete ythrough the base. As many of these holes are rovided as there are circuits to be controlle and they are preferably disposed equal an ularly s aced apart relation, as shown in 4. Vi ithin eachof the holes 5 there. is gui ed a metallic plunger 6, at the lower extremity of which is provided a button 7, preferably of insulating material.

8 designates a metallic frame or plate with openings in alinemen't with the holes 5. and acting to guide the buttons 7. The frame or late. 8 has extensions 9, which are securely astened to the lower face of the base 1, at the points 10.

The base -1 has certain metallic spring cli s '12, upon its. lower face, which exert a tr'eb e function in the device. I prefer to construct these clips of sheet metal bent into a U-shape,

as best shown in Fig. 8, the prongs 13 of the U being embossed to present convex faces toward one another. At the bend of the U, these spring clips embrace an enlarged portion 14, of a screw 15. This screw is received in a post or nut 16, on the top face of. the base 1, and which constitutes a'blnding post for a circuit wire. When the screw 15 is tightened it is-evident that both the binding post '16 and the spring clip 12 are tightly fastened in place, and at the same time an electrical connection is made from said binding post to said spring clip. The number and arrangement of the parts is such that a screw 15 with its cli 12 'es radially opposite each plunger 6, t e convex prongs 13 of each clip mclosing the proximate plunger.

In addition to its function in support ng the clip 12, each screw 15 additlona y holds and supports a metallic tongue 17, which extends inward therefrom, and has a hole 18,

through which the proximate plunger 6 passes.

19 designates springs between the plates 18 and the buttons 7, and which serve to maintain the buttons normally pressed outward. in the relation shown at the right-hand slde' 'I. refer .t e arrangement shown in Fig. 6, in

w 'ch each'tongue 23 is of arcuate form and normally deflected slightly downward from. a supportin radial sector 24. The plate 20 1s posltione on the protuberance 22, so that the extremities of the tongues 23 lie inthe path of the plungers '6 when the latter are moved upward. The rangev or extent of movement of the plungers is such 'as to depress the tongue 23 upward in use, and make a good electrical contact therewith.

. 25 designates a nut received on a screw 26,

passed upward through the hole 3. The nut 25 has a rim or collar 27, 'which'firmly enthe pl gages and holds and also makes electrical contact with the plate 20. This nut 25 also has an annular recessed portion 28, in which is received a mica or insulating washer or disk 29, which entirely covers over the annular chamber 2. 7

30'designates a terminal or binding. screw received in the end of the screw 26-, and "constituting a means for the'attachment of a commonreturn circuit wire It is evident that the circuit wire is electrically connected to the Iplate 20 in this way.

Eac at separate points along its length. The notches 32'are adapted to lie 0 posite and receive the 'le s or prongs 13' o the spring clip12 when t e plunger isin'its outermost or undepressed re ation, as shown in Fig-'3.- The notches 33 are adapted to receive the legs of prongs. 13whenthe plunger is depressed. As the legs or prongs "13 engage applied to any utton 7 be ore it can be deho itdepressed against the tension of its sprl 49. Two desirable functions are secure in this. way; First, the; considerable force necessarily applied insures .a -ver abrupt movement of the pl er, whic makes a quick closure of its circuit; second, the plunger is maintained in circuit closing relation until certain-releasing devices come them.

.ing bushing 45,

plunger 6 has, notches 32 and 33- ers'with considerable force, it isevident t at a ronounced ressure must be 55-.

pressed. .After -'it has been depressed, .the .e agement of the prongs 13 is sufiicient to into action, as T will now particularly describe.

The hole 3 in the base 1, and a central opening 35, in the late 8, serve to guide a release button 40, 'w ich is preferably made of insulating material throughout. The portion of the release button which is guided by the plate 8 is of preferably square or non-circular outline so as to maintain the release button in a predetermined angular relation. The release button has wedges 41, integral therewith and corresponding in number and arrangement to the spring clips 12, each wedge being-adapted to enter between the legs or prongs 13 of such spring clip and separate 42 designates a spring by which the relea se button is normally impelled outward. Any suitable exterior casing 44 may be provided, conveniently of spun metal with an insulatthrough which the circuit wires enter.

46 designates a lining of insulating material which is of the ordinary form-in this class of a paratus.

T e use and operation is as follows: A tel.- minal ofeach circuit to be controlled is connected with one of the various bindin posts 16 and a common return wire for all file circuits is bonnected to the central terminal ,30. The various buttons 7. are normally undepressed, as shown in. Fig. *2, so that all the circuits are interrupted within the annular chamber 2. If now it isdesired to complete any circuit, the button 7 corresponding thereto is depressed bringing its plunger 6 into engagement with the tongue 23 of plate 20. As before mentioned, the prongs 13 of the spring clip 12 press tightly a ainst the plunger in this movement, and ma e a good electrical connection therewith. "A circuit is therefore completed from binding post 16 corresponding to such plunger through the screw 15 and said sprin clip 12. As many circuits as desired may e completed in this way, and it is evident that each is entirely separate from every other. In order to extinguish the lamps, it is merely necessary to depress the release button 40, the wedges 41 of which enter between the various prongs 13, and separate them, so that the plungers 6 are released and ermitted to movedownward under the uence of their impelling springs 19. This spring-impelled movement is obviously very abrupt when the release has been accomplished, so that the circuit rupture is made in an abrupt and positive man- .ner as is required. The distance of separationof the switch contacts can be made as great as desired, depending on the range of movement of the plungers'fi.

What I claim, is:

1. A multiple switch comprising an insubase having a chamber on one face, a

latin %ity of plungers movable through said 'plura base to enter said chamber, and a-common central terminal having sprin tongues engaged by the said plungers an depressed in the. direction of movement thereof.

' 2. A multiple switch comprising an insulating base having a chamber on one face and longitudinally extending holes communicating therewith, a lurality of plungers movab e throu h the oles of said base to enter 10 said cham er, a" common terminal insaid chamber engaged by said plungers, and spring clip'ssecured on the under side of said base for initially resisting the depression of the plunger's, whereby the move abruptly. 3. A multiple switc com rising an insulat' base having an annu ar chamber on one ace, said base having a protuberance extending centrally into said chamber, a metallic plate having spring tongues carried by said protuberance, plungers movable "through said base to engage said tongues,

' and spring clips for normally resistingmovement of said plungersand acting to complete electrical circuits therewith.

4. Amultiple switch com rising an'insulating b'ase having an annu ar chamber extending inward from its end face, a plurality ofbinding'posts on said face surrounding said' chamber, a common terminal within said chamber, a plurality of plungers movable in parallel directions through said base to engage said terminaLmetallic clips fixed on the under face of said base for normally resisting movement of said lungers and electrically connected to said binding osts whereby electrical connection is ma e to said plungers from said binding posts. 7

- :5. A multipleswitch' comprising an insulating base a common terminal carried on one face thereof, a plurality of notched plungers movable therethrough, clips constitutmg electrical connections to said plu'ngers and actin inconjunction with saidnotches to normal y restrain movement thereof, and 4 means for displacing said clips whereby the plunge'rs se arate from said terminal. 6. Amu tiple switch comprising an insulating base, a terminal carried on one face thereof, plungers movable through said base to engage said terminal, spring clips engaging said plun ers' to norma ly restrain mo vement thereo and a release buttonhaving wedges todisplace said clips to release said plungers.

' 7. A multiple switch comprising an insulating base having longitudinally extending holes and a completely inclosed insulating chamber extending annularly inward from one end face, a lurality of plungers movable throu h the ho es of said base'to enter said chain r, -a terminal within said chamber,

8. A multiple switch comprising an insu-' lating base having a protu era-nee on one face, a plurality of plungers'movable through said base around said protuberance, a ter minal arranged on said protuberance in the path of all 0 said lungers, a nut for holding said terminal in place and establishing electrical connection therewith, and separate circuit connections to said plungers.

9. A multiple switch comprising an insulating base, a plurality of notched plungers movable therethrough, -a' common term nal engaged by said plungers, U-shaped springclips engaging the notches of sa1d plungers and establishing electrical connection therewith and acting to normally restrain movement of said plungers, and a release button having wedges to separate the prongs of sa d clips to disengage said plungers from said terminal.

1.0. A multiple switch comprising an insulating base, a plunger movable therethrough, a binding post carried on oneface of sa1d base, a U-shaped spring clip on the other side of said base and embracing said plunger, a screw passed through said clip and entering said post to fasten said clip and post in'place, and a terminal engaged by said lunger. 7

11. A multiple switch comprisin an insulating base having lungers mova l e therethrough, a terminaf engaged by sa1d plungers, a plurality of posts carried on said base on the face corresponding to said terminal,

spring clips on the opposite face of said base,

means for connecting said cli s to said posts, tongues supported by said chtps, and springs surroundin said plungers an engaging said tongues, w ereby the plungers are slpring-' pressed to separate from said termina 12. A multiple switch com rising an 1118- latin base having an annu ar chamber on one ace, said base having a protuberance extending centrally into said chamber, a metallic plate having spring tongues carried by said protuberance, p ngers movable through said base to engage said tongues, and spring clips for maintaining sa1d plungersin such an ag' relation andactmg to complete electrical clrcuits therewlth.

- In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. GERVIN. Witnesses:

WALDO M. 'Cinrm, JAMns D. An'romo. 

